Poems and Essays By the late William Caldwell Roscoe. (Edited with a Prefatory Memoir, by his Brother-in-law, Richard Holt Hutton) |
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 | Poems and Essays |  |
40
[On many an English lady's face]
On many an English lady's face
Fair Fortune grants these eyes to gaze;
Not fair alone in form or hue,
But gracious, guileless, tender, true.
I do not say you shall not find
A fairer face or loftier mind;
But none where Love's deep fervour lies
More deep in secret-keeping eyes;
None where fair Truth from more sincere
Unstained windows gazes clear,
Or consecrated Duty made
Eyes more abashed, yet less afraid;
Where pain so quietly hath hid
Beneath an unrevealing lid;
Or quick-accepted comfort smiled
With all the freshness of a child.
None whence shyer, sweeter laughter
Shot, the soft voice following after;
Nowhere hath Pity bidden rise
Tenderer tears in truer eyes.
Fair Fortune grants these eyes to gaze;
Not fair alone in form or hue,
But gracious, guileless, tender, true.
I do not say you shall not find
A fairer face or loftier mind;
But none where Love's deep fervour lies
More deep in secret-keeping eyes;
None where fair Truth from more sincere
Unstained windows gazes clear,
Or consecrated Duty made
Eyes more abashed, yet less afraid;
Where pain so quietly hath hid
Beneath an unrevealing lid;
Or quick-accepted comfort smiled
With all the freshness of a child.
None whence shyer, sweeter laughter
Shot, the soft voice following after;
Nowhere hath Pity bidden rise
Tenderer tears in truer eyes.
Fountain of my contentment, the swift years,
Joy-bringers hitherto, bring also tears;
Short are the respites unto mortals given,
To stand on earth, yet touch the gates of heaven.
Joy-bringers hitherto, bring also tears;
Short are the respites unto mortals given,
To stand on earth, yet touch the gates of heaven.
Dolgûog, 1856.
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